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â-  h: ' y ii.TjfliiiiiTniTrtniTa.-B>i ThePrice 01 Liberty OR, A MIDNIGHT CALL g^.^^'^, ?gi ^^ l â-  ^ â-  l . t |r| l | Sr , l . l . ^ , l , 1 , ^ i^JilJ^^a^'^'â- '^â- ^'â- '^'^'^^"T;"^ i!^m3' < ' â- ^ ' ) ' l ' â-  l ^ ' â-  !E ^l!^ ! ^^ ClI/Vl'TKU XXXIV. â€" (Continued.) tutencss. You saw his fM« lust "Of course. I'rosiintly I am going ""W „ . ^ . t<. show you a little more of the I Oh. yes. U was a flno study in coui.wly. Well. I wa.s on tho terrace , emotions. If you could And the prolly lute when I heard dear kc- , °'''""' P''^'^"''** ^ Siiittld down the cliff calling for as-! "^ hope to restore it to you hpforo sii^tanre. He pretendwl that ho had i tno day has passod. ' hlipped down the cliff and could not I Llttimer applauded, gently Ho gi-t up aguin. Ity the aid of a ropo waa charmed, he .said, with the whole that fortunately huppeneil to boComorty. I'ho first two acts had been cJo.so at hand I saved our dear ' » brilliant sut<coss. If the third was friend's life. I have learnt from , ""'y a^ S^od ho would regard Miss one of the gardeners ju-st now that i '"'^'' '^^ *''s benefactor for ever. It Kcginald placed the ropo there him- M^'^'* ""*â-  o''-''" that anybody intellec- seifâ€" a most effective touch, you I 'â- "''"y amused him; in fact, he must mu.st admit." I add Miss Lee to his collection. â- â- \i!ry/- liell .said, drilv. "But I I '"''hon you must play apart your- quite fail to see why •'• Iself," C^cia said, gaily. "I am go- "I am coming to that. Don't you ; '"K i"t<> Moreton Wolls, and Dr. llcU see that if an.ything happened Ueg- ' ""^"^"""Panipa mc. Mr. Hcnson is inald could prove that ho was not | ""'^ '^° know that wo have gone, and near the house at tho time'? Uuti*^" '*• ""' ••" leave the house for a just before that I saw his accom- j Sood hour or so after our departure plico como up the cliff; indeed, he ! ^^at I want Is a fair start and the passed quite close to mo on his way to tho house. Uoginald quito over- looked this fact in his heed for his own safety. When I had effected my gallant rescue I hoard an owl hoot. Now, there are no owls about hero privilege of bringing a guer.t homo to dinner." "Vague, mysterious. and allur- ing," Littimer said. "Rring the guest by all means. I will pledge my diplomacy that you have a long 'I guessed what that meant â€" itlff'-art. lioally. I don't know when was a signal of success. Then I j ^ have enjoyed myself so much. You went back to the corridor and thoj^hall have tho big wagonette for Uembrandt was gone. The stays had i yoy journey." l)oen cut away. At first I was i "And join it beyond tho lodge- dreadfully upset, but tho more I I grates," Chris said, tho\»ghtfully thought of it the more sure I wasj"D'"- Be", you .shall stroll throu*. that it was all for the best." the park casually: I will follow "Hut you might have raised an casually later on.' alarm and caught the thief, who â€" "Who would have been promptly disclaimed by Reginald. Lot me tell you. sir, that 1 have the thiof and tho lost Hembramlt in the hollow of my handa. Before tho day is out I shall make good my boast. And there's tho breakfast bell." It looke<l quite natural some time later for tho three conspirators to be lounging about tho gallery when "cnson emerged from his bedroom. He appeared bright and smiling, and most of the bandages had been re- move:! from his throat. All the samo he was not plonsod to see Hell there; he gazed uneasily at tho doc- tor and from him to Littimer. "You know Boll," tho latter said, carelessly. "Fact is, there's been a great mistake " licIl orfnred his hand heartily. It cost him a huge effort, but tho slimy scoundrel had to bo fought with his own weapons. Ifcnson shook his head with the air of a man ox- temliny a largo and generous need of forgiveness. Ho sought In vain to read Hell's eyes, but there was a steady, almost boyish, smile in them." "I indeed rejoice," he said, \mctu- ously. "I indeed rejoice â€" rejoice â€" rejoice!" lie repeated the last word help- liessly; he seemed to have lost all his backbone, and lapsed into a flab- by, jellified mass of quivering white humanity. His vacant, fishy eyes were fixed upon the Uembrandt in a kind of dull, sleoijy terror. "I'm not well," ho gasped. "Not so strong as I imuginod, I'll â€" ^I'll go ami lie down again. Later on I shall want a dogcart to drive me to Moreton 'Veils. I " He paused again, glanced at tho picture, and passed heavily to hia room. Littimer smiled. "Splendid," ho said. "It was worth thousands Just to nee hia face." "All tho same," Chris said quietly; "all the same, that man is not to i\ little later llenson emerged his room dressed evidently f'. journey. Ho looked Habhy and wor- ried; there was an expression very like foar in his cvy'es. The corridor was deserted as he pas.sed tho place where the Hembramlt hung. He paused before tho picture in a hesita- ting, fascinated way. His feet scemod to pull up before it involun- tarily. "What does it mean?" he mutter- ed. "What in the name of fate has happened'.' It is impossible that Merrilt could have pla.ved mo a triok like that; he would never have dar- ed. Besides, he has too much to gnin by following my instructions. I fancy " Henson slippe<l up to the pictme as a sudden idea como to him. If the picture h.ad not bci-n removed at all tho stays would still be intact. And if they were intact Morrit was likely to have a bad quarter of an hour later on. It would bo proof thatâ€" But the .-.tays wore iiot intact. The heads had been shaved off with sonio cutting instrument; the half of the stays gleamed like silver in tho morning light. And yet tho Uem- brandt was there. Tho more Henson dwelt upon it tho more he was puz- zled. He began to wonder whether some deep trap was being laid for him But. no, he had seen no siq:ns of it. In some way or another IVll had nmnaged to ingratiate himself with Littimer again, but not ni>ce.ssarilv for long. Henson told him.self, with a vicious grin. Nor was liitlinier the kind of niiin who over troubled himself lo restrain his findings. If ho had got to the bottom of the whole busine.ss he would have had Henson kicked out of th« house without delay. But Littimer suspected nothing. His greeting just now showed that Bell suspected nothing, because he had shaken hands in lhi» heartiest matiner possible. And as foMMI.ss IjOC, she was no more than a smart leave for Moreton Wells till I've hajl j Yankee girl, and absolutely an out a clear hours start of him. Dr. Bell sldpr. will you accompany mo?" CHAPTF-U XXXV. Lord Littimer polished his rarely used eye Klasa carefully and favored Chri.s with a long, admiring stare. At tho samn time he was wondering why the girl should have token such a vivid Inlcreat in Unginald Honson an<l his doings. For sonto years past it had beon Llttimor's whim to hohl up Honson bofora everybody as his successor, so far as tho castle went. He liked to see Hwison's mod- est smirk and beautiful self-abase- mont, for in sooth has lordship had a pretty contempt for the man who hoiMMl to succeed him. But tho will mado sonic time ago by Littimer Won 111 havo comn as a painful shock to the philanthropist. "It is a very pretty tangle as it â- tands," he said. "Miss I>oe. let me complimont you upon your astute- nosA In this mattor. Only don't tell me you schemed your wa.v here, and that you are a lady detective. I road a good many novels, and I doa't Ilkis them." "You may bo easy on that score." Chris laughed. "I am not a lad.y de- tnclivo. All the same. 1 have defeat- ed Mr. Reginald Henson ' "You think ho Is at the bottom of the mystery of the other Rem- brandt?' "I am certain of It: iinle.ss you like to believe In the truth of hia charming scheme lo give you a los- flon. na he ^Ilod It. As a matter of fact Mr. Henson discovered tho ox- Isteiro of the other print; ho dls- coviTfHl that Dr. Bell possessed it â€" the rest I loava to your own aa- 9till, it was droadfull.v pir^zling. And it Was not nice to be pimzled at a time when tho arch-consjiirator ought to know every move of tho game. Tlierefore It'becanio neces- sary to go Into Moreton Wolls and see Morritt without delay. As Hon- son crossed tho hall tho cheerful voice of I,ittlmer hailed him. "Uoginald," ho cTied, "I want your a.ssistanre and advice." With a muttered curse Henson en- tered tho librar.v. Littimer waa seated at a table, with a clgarotto in his mouth, his brows drawn over a ma.ss of pai>els. "Hit down and have a cigar," he snld. "Tho fact is I am .setting my affairs in order--l am going to make a fresh will. If you handn't come down last night I should probably have sent for you. Now take my bank-book and check those figures." ".Shall wo bo long?" Henson ask- ed, anxiously. Liltlranr tartly hoped that Henson could spare him an hour. It was not usual, ho said, for a testator to be refu.sed assistance from the chief Imnofactor under his will. Henson apologized, with n sickly smile. Ho had Important busineas of a philan- thropic kind in Moreton Wolls. but he had no doubt that it could wait for an hour. And then for the be.st part of tho moniing he sat fuming politel.y. whilst Littimer chattered in ' tho most amiable fashion. Hennoii \ had rarely seen him In a better j moo<l. It was quile obvious that | he suspected nothing. Meanwhile | Chris and Bell wore bowling along ] towards Mmeton Wells. They sat } well back In the roomy wagonott«b ' [bo that tho servanta could not hear ' them. Chria regarded Bell with a. brilliant smile on her face. "â- Confess," she said, "confesa that you are consumed with curiosity.' "It would be Just as well to oc- knowledge it at once," Bell admitt od. "In the happy old days your sister Enid always said that you wore the clever and audacious one of the family. She said you would do or dare anything." "I Used to imagine so," Chris said, more quietly. "But the life of the last few years tried ono's norves terribly. Still, tho change has done mo a deal of good â€" the change and the knowledge that Reginald Honson regards mo as dead. But you want to know how I am going to get tho Rembrandt?" '"ITiat is what is consuming me at (>rescnt," Bell said. "Well, wo are going to see tho man who has it," Chris explained, coolly. "I have his address In More- ton Wells at the present moment, and for the rest ho Is called tho Rev. James Merrltt. Between ourselves ho is no more a reverend than you are." "And if tha gentleman is shy or refuses to see us?" "Then he will be arrested on a charge of theft." "My dear young lady, before you can get a warrant for that kind ^f thing you have to prove the thgft, you have to swear an information to the effect that you bollevo tbtf pro- perty is in the possession of the thief, and that Is not ea*'y." "There is nothing ''easier. I am prepared to swear that cheerfully." "That you actually know that the property is in tho possession of the thiel?" "Certainly T. do. T. saw him put it in his pocki't." Boll Ioo...^d at the si>eaker with blank surpriso. If such was tho fact, then Chris's present statement was exactly opposed to all that she hii^fl said before. She sat opposite Boll with a little gleam of mis- iet in; her lovely eyes. "You saw that man steal the Rem- brandt?" Bell gasped. "Certainly not. But I did sec him steal my big diamond star and put it in his pocket. And I can swear an information on that." "I see that you have something interesting to tell me," Boll said. "Oh, indeed, I have. We will hark badk now to the night before last, when Reginald Honson made his per- sonal attempt to obtain the Rem- brandt and then played tho trick uu- on you that was so vor.v near to b(i- ing a brilliant success." "It would have been best for you," Bell murmureil. "Well, really 1 am inclined to think so. And perhaps Lord Litti- mer would have given you in custo- dy on a second charge of theft. If he had done so it would havo gone hard with .you to i)rove your inno- i.«ence. But T am \vandoring from the point. Henson failed. But he was going to try ogain. I watched him carefully yesterday and managed to see his letters ainl telegrams. Then T found that ho had telegraphed to .lames Morritt, whose address In Moreton Wells I carefully noted down. It did not require much in- tellect to grasj) tho fact that this Merritt was to be tho accomplice in the new effort to steal tho i>i(<ture. Mr. Merritt came over and saw his chief, with whom he had a long con- versation in the grounds. I also forced myself on Mr. Merritt's no- tice. "He was introduccnl to mo as a brand plucked from the burning, a converted thief who had taken or- ders (if some kind. He is a sorry- looking scoundrel, and I took jiarti- cular note of him, especially the hor- rible smashed thumb." "Tho what!" Boll exclaimed. "A thumb like a snake's head with a little jiink nail on it?" Tho .same man. So you have mot him." "Wo met on our way here," Bell said, drily. "Tho rascal sent the dogcart away from tho station so that I should have to walk home, and ho attacked me in tho road. But I had expected something of the kind and I was ready for him. And ho was tho man with tho thumb. I should havo told you this before, but I had forgotten it in watching your fa-scinatlng diplomacy. When the at- tack was defeated the rascal bolted in tho direction of the cliffs. Of course, he was off to tell Honson of tho failure of tho s(4icme and to go on with tho plot for getting the other picture. If he hod stolen my Rembrandt then tho other would havo remained. I couldn't have turned up with a cock-and-bull story of having started with the picture and being robbod of it Ity a total stranger in tho road But I am in- terrupting you." "Well, I marked that thumb care- fully. I havo already told you that tho thief pas8c<l mo on his way to tho hou.so when ho came up tho clifT. I was leaning over the terrace when I saw him emerge Into a band of light caused by tho big arc in the Castle tower. I forget that 1 was in deep shadow and that ho could not possibly see me. J jerked my head back suddenly and my diamond star fell out and droppivl almost at the tho direjifory who go in for that kind ! boy, and the boy who accepts it, of thJBig, and I'm going to get up a ' ire equally liable to punishment, bopstor at Littimer Castle for the I In Heligoland no boy under tho b.fenefit of the predatory cla.sses who age of sixteen may enter a public- â- 'havo turned over a new leaf. I am I house for any purpose whatever; and particularly anxious for Mr. Merritt I in tho City of Hoanoke, in Virginia, Don't you prove It. He would be pretty aure to pawn the star â€" he probably has done so by this tiou!, and therefore we have him In our power. We have only to discover where tho diamonds have been 'planted' â€" is that the cor- rect expression? â€" I can swear an in- formation, and the police will subse- quently search the fellow's lodgings. When tho scacrh is made the missing Uembrandt will bo found there. Mr. Morritt would hardly dare to pawn that." "Even if he know its real value, which I doubt," Bell' said, thought- fully. "Henson would not tell his tool too much. Let me congratu- late you upon your idoa. Miss Chris. That diamond star of yours is a powerful factor in our hands, and you always havo the consciousne-ss knowing that you can get it ogain. Now. what are we Bfiiifig to do next?" "Oolng to call upotyTiir. Merritt, of course," Chris^rfj, promptly. "You forget that^RJavo his address. I am deeply intej^ted in the welfare of the criminajr'classcs, and you are also an cntjrfusiast. I've looked u<) tho name^'of one or two people in LAWS FROMOTHER LANDS fSOO FOB OFFEEING A KTOEMD A CIGARETTE. Korway's Sensible Law â€" marriad Men Bave a Double Vote in Belgium.. The JMII which is before the Britiali Parliament for tho prevention of juvenile smoking cannot well bo con- sidered severe in its proposals by those who are faeniliar with simil legislation in other cour In Arkansa^^^^^^^instance, so a<>- vereljj,^Jf^80ioking frowned upon by law that tho penalty for soiling garettes even to an adult cannot bo less than $500, and may be as much as $.5, DUO; while similar fines hang over the head of a man who in an oblivious moment offers a cigar- ette to a friend. In Norway the sale of tobacco in any form to boys under sixteen is absolutely forbidden under hea\'y penalties; and tho stranger who offers a cigarette to a to give us an address, think that will do?" "I should think it would do well indeed," Bell said. (To be Continued.) very KAISEE TAKES CREDIT. But Other Men Are the Authors of His Productions. "He has talents, undoubtedly, but they aro croativo only in giving work to others, the product pa.'ssing for his own in the end. As Herron von Moltke and Philip Eulenborg are the real authors of his 'Song to Aegir," BO Professor Knackfu.ss, in Cassol, composes his cartoons, though being credited only with their technical execution. "The late Court Chaplain From- mel used to write the Imperial ser- mons delivered with so much ec'lat on tho deck of tho yacht Hohenzol- lerii; officers of the military house- hold prepare William's lectures, and the artist Karl Saltzmann paints his landscape and marine views." This remarkable passage from a book lately published will cause a good deal of unkind gossip in tho capital of the Kaiser. Written by a lady-in-waiting. Private Lives of William U. his Consort," professes to give inner history of tho Ocrman court up to the present daj'. Their Majesties intensely dislike seeing servants about the woe to tho boy or girl under that age who is seen in the streets alone after nine o'clock in the evening in sunwaaer-tirae and eight o'clock in winter; unless tho.v have a written permission from their parents or are going in search of a doctor they will be arrested, and the parents must expect to pay A HEAVY FINE. Norway has recently passed a very sensible law â€" which might well be adopted by other countries â€" to tha effect that any woman who wishes to wed must first present to tha authorities a certificate showing that she is skilled in the arts of cooking, ! sowing, knitting, and embroidery; and until she can satisf.v tham that she is an adept in these dome-stic arts she ma.v, metaphorically, "whis- tle" for a husband No wonder the young men of Norway are jubilant. Lucerne has upon its statute-book a law. by no means beloved of ladies, w'aich forbids the wearing of hats moro than eighteen inches in diameter, and of foreign feathers and artificial flowers; while even to wear ribbons of silk and gauzo a liconsn of fort.v ponce a year must bo taken out. Germany has an excellent me- thod of her own for dealing with brutes who beat their wives. They aro not, as here, sent to prison for a consecutive term, in which case the wife and family must lose their palace. I means of subsistence. In Oerniany I they aro arrested on Saturday, at and 'Tho and the Here is a sidelight: â€" Her Majesty being so fastidious | the end of their week's work about girls in her room (when the kept in durance until Monday, when Kaiser is present) as William is | tho.v aro .set free to begi about man-servants, she is now ob-j again. And this w^^|uu|^i^carcnr lige<l to make her own lire in tho j ation is continued unti^R^sentcnco grate on chilly mornings whenever hor husband is at home. What a parody on royal state this â€" tho Em- press-Queen getting up in her "night- ie," and in the 1*01(1 and damp, to light her own lire! Verily. truth is stranger by far than fiction. WHY III^ FAILKP. He was an elder oi a chapel in a little tllumorgan.ihiro town. Ho wus also a tiadesmnn, and ho fell upon evil days. His creditors pressed him and hv' was forced to lilo his petition in huMkriipt(\v. His failure was the talk of the town. He felt his position acutel.v. and kept as much as possible with- in doors. Then the brethren decided to hold a me«'tiiig, and tho unworth.v elder was siimiiioned to attend. The pas- tor spoke first. He urged his people to bo considerate and tender. He was followed b.v a man who made an eloquent speech on honesty in trade, and concluded b.v moving that the eUler tie suspended from ofllce for a period to give him time to purge himself of hia heinousness. A 8(«c.onder and supporter spoke to tho same effect. The brethren looked severe, their countenances were set with tho sternne-ss of a righteous wrath. a deep silence pervaded the room. .Slowly and humbly the elder arose. I want," ho murmMred mcekl.v. "to say a few things based on my led- ger. The mover of the resolution owes mo £16. I offered him throe weeks ago to settle it for £12. to save m.vself from my present posi- tion. 'Phe seconder owes me £13. I told him I would accept fclO to pre- vent this exposure. Tho supporter of tho resolution Is Indebted to mo to the aimount of £t'." A brief pause. "And now. with your permission" â€" turning to the pastor â€" "I will read out tho sums tho others present owe me." H'O read them out. calmly and de- liberately, but long ere he had fin- ished tho brethren had fled. BULL THAT CHEWS TOBACCO. foot of the Intruder. Then he saw ti,„ ,i „i, ,. „ u it. chuckle<l over it-plnred it in his', ^ h« ''<-"l<ey who w.us a ci^nnolasour pocket. I was going to call out. but i " t"b«cco must look to his laurels. 1 didn't. I had « sudden idea. Dr. â-  '" *'^''"' "^y ** correspondent. "I nell-I hod an ld.«» that almost "'"""-â- '"'' "J, y"""K, '^«"'a" '"'1' that nmounted to an inspiration." i""*- ""'y ^"ewod lighted cigarettp.s, Chris paused for u moment and her '»"* "'â- ''" washed his meal down with o.ves sparkled. Bell was watching :'"*".'M'ii»t of neat rum. Tommy (tho her with tho deepest interest and ad- '^""''* name) wus the property of miration jCapt. Craig, the skipper of tho local "I let tho man keep it." Chris steamer Falcon. He wus liked on wer.t on. r.iore slowly, "with on exe board and was. despite his dissipat- to tho future. The man had stolen od habits, a great favorlto with tho the thing ami I waa in a position lo native crow." is completed, the man'^ earnings lie- ing handed over INTACT TO HI.S.WIFE. In Belgium, if a man Vt^aats to pose as a full-blown voter, he must qualify for tho privilege by taking to himself a wife. .So long as ha remains single he is only entitled to a single vote, but from the day ho makes a trip to the altar his politi- cal value is doubled. In Madagas- car .you take your choice between being father of n family and paying a substantial tax. If. at the age of twenty-five, a man is uiuiiarried or childless he must make up his mind to pay $a.73 a year for his default; while every girl who romain.s single or without chick, after passing her twenty-fourth ,vear. must pay an annual tax of ;[>t.l'3. In Western Australia the minimum penalt.v for serving drink on a .Sun- day is $250. and the keeper of an inn or hotel must not absent himaolf from his house for more than four weeks in the year without special I>ermission from a stipendary magis- trate. In Austria any actor who wears a military or ecclesiastical cos- tume on the stage is liable to a heavy fine, while in Germany such costumes are permitted on the stage, but woo to the wearer if they are not correct down to a button. AN AWFITL REVELATION. "I wish you hadn't had your hair cut so short. Harold! • "o.xclaimod the young woman, turning from him Involurrtarily. "What difference does it make, dearest? " asketl Harold, with len- der anxiety. "Youâ€"you have destroyed an illu- sUTn." she sighe<l. "'ITiat is all." "You di(h>'t think I was a poet, did you. Clara, because I wore my hair long?" ".Vo; I never suspe<.nod vou of be- ing a poet." "Nor an artist?" "No." "Then what illusion have I des- troyed?" ho •dcmamlod. "Perhaps I should say. Harold,'' she answore<i, with toara in her voice, "that you have uncon.sciously revealed a fact I never suspected, dear. Your cars don't match!" â€" f BOIH BOTHERED. The neighbor leaned upon her „. den-roko and called over tho fenc* â-  I noticed a light in your last night, Mr. Bimley," ahe "Are your baby's teeth him again?" "Hon't know how mvti bothering him," he anaw? ly: "but they're both« out of nae."- : I: f J-.f! \ '/ T